THE ACTS 1:8 CALLING: A MISSIONARY ASSESSMENT
The promise of the Holy Spirit has been given to the church as an equipping and enabling power to do the work of ministry, and Jesus declared to His disciples that they would be His witnesses in the earth. As God’s communicators, and messengers, the church has been called to reach out with the message of the gospel of Christ in 3 specific spheres.
These spheres have been examined and studied by missiologists, with much wisdom resulting in the church’s role and responsibility to participate in the work of evangelism and missions.
The task of missions is challenging, and sharing the gospel and making disciples glorifies Christ.
UNDERSTANDING E1, E2, E3 – (”E” being Evangelism)
Three Spheres of Missionary Work
E1: “Jerusalem Missions” – Acts 1:12-8:3: E1 Missions – Corresponds to communicating the message of Christ to people of one’s own CULTURE and LANGUAGE. This is the calling of every Christian in every society, and is often defined by terms as, “Evangelism,” “Outreach,” and “Home Missions.” This is the kind of missions ministry that communicates to family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. It is evident that local church growth depends on effective approaches to E1 ministry. Because missions is progressive, E1 “Home Missions” is a prerequisite for churches and believers to engage in doing other forms of “cross cultural” missions.
E2: “Judea and Samaria Missions” – Acts 8:4-11:18: Corresponds to missions that relates to the SAME (or similar) LANGUAGE, yet DIFFERENT CULTURES. Missions of this nature reaches out to one’s geographical or culturally close neighbors. This type of missions will often result in short term trips, serving, preaching, and ministering the gospel to people of distinctly different cultures. This type of missions ministry is d0-able and should be part of the program of every local church. Participation in Short-Term E2 Missions should be the consideration of every believer, because trips of this nature have the power to change lives, and stamp a burden and vision on hearts for the work of missions. E2 Missions does require getting out of one’s comfort zones, and sharing the love of Christ with people needing to hear the message of salvation. Many young people return from such E2 Missions trips to find that life is more than purchasing the latest style, gadget, or accessory on another trip to the shopping mall.
E3: “The Uttermost Parts of the Earth Missions” This type of ministry reaches out in far and removed places, in DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT CULTURES, to people of DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. Missions which reaches distant lands has throughout history presented significant challenges, yet with great rewards. The longer term E3 Missionary finds himself with an undeniable sense of calling to minister the love of God to people unlike his own, and finds his greatest successes after long term service. The E3 Missionary requires a committed team of senders who pray and support the work on the foreign field. He cannot do the work of missions without those who remain behind who share in his call to support missions from home.
THE CALL TO GO TO NATIONS, ETHNIC PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE GROUPS: The underlying word for all missionary activity is “GO.” There is no other way to be a Christian than to GO, to serve, and to love men and women in the name of Christ. Someone once said, 2/3 of the word: “GOD” is “GO!”
E1,E2,E3 Concepts: Dr. Ralph Winter, Pasadena, CA
Reference: (click): http://joshuaproject.net/assets/articles/finishing-the-task.pdf